Abstract: A method for reducing the cost of health care involves assessing patients and determining which patients have psychosocial issues that can put the first patient at-risk of having a longer than normal recovery period. Additional services are provided to those patients for whom it has been determined as having psychosocial issues that can put them at-risk of having a longer than normal recovery period. In one form, the at-risk patient are provided with information to enable them to develop a personal plan for change that is geared to providing them with coping skills and a support mechanism to aid the at-risk patient in overcoming the psychosocial issues that can tend to prolong the recovery period.